Psoriasis is a chronic,
autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when
the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the
growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not
contagious.

There are five types of
psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular and
erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis,
appears as raised, red patches or lesions covered with a
silvery white build-up of dead skin cells, called scale.
Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is
associated with other serious health conditions, such as
diabetes, heart disease and depression

Type of
psoriasis

Psoriasis appears in a
variety of forms with distinct characteristics. Typically,
an individual has only one type of psoriasis at a
time. Generally, one type of psoriasis will clear and
another form of psoriasis will appear in response to
a trigger.

Plaque
Psoriasis - (psoriasis
vulgaris)

Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis
vulgaris) is the most prevalent form of the disease. About
80 percent of those who have psoriasis have this
type. It is characterized by raised, inflamed, red lesions
covered by a silvery white scale. It is typically found on
the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back.

Guttate
Psoriasis -

Guttate [GUH-tate]
psoriasis is a form of psoriasis that often
starts in childhood or young adulthood. The word guttate is
from the Latin word meaning "drop." This form of psoriasis
appears as small, red, individual spots on the skin. Guttate
lesions usually appear on the trunk and limbs. These spots
are not usually as thick as plaque lesions.

Guttate psoriasis often
comes on quite suddenly. A variety of conditions can bring
on an attack of guttate psoriasis, including upper
respiratory infections, streptococcal throat infections (strep
throat), tonsillitis, stress, injury to the skin and the
administration of certain drugs including antimalarials and
beta-blockers.

Inverse
Psoriasis -

Inverse psoriasis is
found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and in other
skin folds around the genitals and the buttocks. This type
of psoriasis appears as bright-red lesions that are
smooth and shiny. Inverse psoriasis is subject to irritation
from rubbing and sweating because of its location in skin
folds and tender areas. It can be more troublesome in
overweight people and those with deep skin folds.

Pustular
Psoriasis -

Primarily
seen in adults, pustular psoriasis is characterized by white
blisters of noninfectious pus (consisting of white blood
cells) surrounded by red skin. There are three types of
pustular psoriasis.

Pustular psoriasis may be localized to certain areas
of the body, such as the hands and feet, or covering most of
the body. It begins with the reddening of the skin followed
by formation of pustules and scaling.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis -

Erythrodermic [eh-REETH-ro-der-mik]
psoriasis is a particularly inflammatory form of
psoriasis that affects most of the body surface. It may
occur in association with von Zumbusch pustular psoriasis.
It is characterized by periodic, widespread, fiery redness
of the skin and the shedding of scales in sheets, rather
than smaller flakes. The reddening and shedding of the skin
are often accompanied by severe itching and pain, heart rate
increase, and fluctuating body temperature.

Psoriasis of a Finger Nail

People experiencing the
symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis flare should go
see a doctor immediately. Erythrodermic psoriasis
causes protein and fluid loss that can lead to severe
illness. The condition may also bring on infection,
pneumonia and congestive heart failure. People with severe
cases of this condition often require hospitalization.

Known triggers of
erythrodermic psoriasis include the abrupt withdrawal
of a systemic psoriasis treatment including
cortisone; allergic reaction to a drug resulting in the
Koebner response; severe sunburns; infection; and
medications such as lithium, anti-malarial drugs; and strong
coal tar products.

Causes of
psoriasis

No one knows exactly what
causes psoriasis. However, it is understood that the
immune system and genetics play major roles in its
development. Most researchers agree that the immune system
is somehow mistakenly triggered, which causes a series of
events, including acceleration of skin cell growth. A normal
skin cell matures and falls off the body in 28 to 30 days. A
skin cell in a patient with psoriasis takes only 3 to
4 days to mature and instead of falling off (shedding), the
cells pile up on the surface of the skin, forming psoriasis
lesions.

Scientists believe that at
least 10 percent of the general population inherits one or
more of the genes that create a predisposition to
psoriasis. However, only 2 percent to 3 percent of the
population develops the disease. Researchers believe that
for a person to develop psoriasis, the individual
must have a combination of the genes that cause psoriasis
and be exposed to specific external factors known as
“triggers.”

Learn more about genetic and immune system involvement
in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis triggers

Psoriasis triggers are not universal. What may cause
one person’s psoriasis to become active, may not
affect another. Established psoriasis triggers
include:

Stress

Stress can cause psoriasis to flare for the first
time or aggravate existing psoriasis. Relaxation and
stress reduction may help prevent stress from impacting
psoriasis.

Injury to skin

Psoriasis can appear in areas of the skin that have
been injured or traumatized. This is called the Koebner [KEB-ner]
phenomenon. Vaccinations, sunburns and scratches can all
trigger a Koebner response. The Koebner response can be
treated if it is caught early enough.

Medications

Lithium: Used to treat manic
depression and other psychiatric disorders. Lithium
aggravates psoriasis in about half of those with psoriasis
who take it.

Antimalarials: Quinacrine, chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine may cause a flare of psoriasis, usually 2
to 3 weeks after the drug is taken. Hydroxychloroquine has
the lowest incidence of side effects.

Inderal:
This high blood pressure medication worsens psoriasis in
about 25 percent to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis
who take it. It is not known if all high blood pressure
(beta blocker) medications worsen psoriasis, but they may
have that potential.

Quinidine:
This heart medication has been reported to worsen some cases
of psoriasis.

Indomethacin: This is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
used to treat arthritis. It has worsened some cases of
psoriasis. Other anti-inflammatories usually can be
substituted. Indomethacin's negative effects are usually
minimal when it is taken properly. Its side effects are
usually outweighed by its benefits in psoriatic arthritis.

Other triggers

Although scientifically unproven, some people with psoriasis
suspect that allergies, diet and weather trigger their
psoriasis. Strep infection is known to trigger guttate
psoriasis.

Prevalence

Psoriasis is one of the most prevalent
autoimmune diseases in the U.S.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as
many as 7.5 million Americans—approximately 2.2 percent of
the population--have psoriasis.

125 million people worldwide—2 to 3 percent of the total
population—have psoriasis.

Studies show that between 10 and 30 percent of people with
psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.

Quality
of life related to Psoriasis

Psoriasis is not a cosmetic problem.
Nearly 60 percent of people with psoriasis reported
their disease to be a large problem in their everyday life.

Nearly 40 percent with psoriatic
arthritis reported their disease to be a large problem in
everyday life.3

Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis
experienced a greater negative impact on their quality of
life.4

Psoriasis has a greater impact on
quality of life in women and younger patients.4

Age of
onset related to Psoriasis

Psoriasis often appears between the ages of 15 and
25, but can develop at any age.

Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30
and 50, but can develop at any age.

Severity
of psoriasis

The
National Psoriasis Foundation defines mild psoriasis
as affecting less than 3 percent of the body; 3 percent to
10 percent is considered moderate; more than 10 percent is
considered severe. For most individuals, the palm of the
hand is about the same as 1 percent of the skin surface.
However, the severity of psoriasis is also measured by how
psoriasis affects a person's quality of life.

Nearly
one-quarter of people with psoriasis have cases that
are considered moderate to severe.

Genetic
aspects of psoriasis

About one
out of three people with psoriasis report having a relative
with psoriasis.

If one
parent has psoriasis, a child has about a 10 percent
chance of having psoriasis. If both parents have psoriasis,
a child has approximately a 50 percent chance of developing
the disease.

Other health concerns
associated with psoriasis
and psoriatic arthritis

Individuals with psoriasis
are at an elevated risk to develop other chronic and serious
health conditions also known as "comorbid diseases" or "comorbidities."
These include heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease and
diabetes. People with more severe cases of psoriasis
have an increased incidence of psoriatic arthritis,
cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer,
depression, obesity, and other immune-related conditions
such as Crohn's disease1.

Cardiovascular risk

An October 2006 study
confirmed the increased risk of cardiovascular disease for
psoriasis patients, especially those with severe
psoriasis in their 40s and 50s. Psoriasis
patients should examine their modifiable risk factors—for
example, quit smoking, reduce stress and maintain a normal
weight.

Depression

Psoriasis can cause
considerable emotional distress for patients, including
decreased self-esteem, and an increased incidence of mood
disorders, such as depression. One study estimates that
approximately one-fourth of psoriasis patients suffer
from depression. Learn more about the risk for developing
depression.

Cancer

A number of studies have found
an increased risk of certain types of cancer in
psoriasis patients, such as a form of skin cancer known
as squamous cell carcinoma and lymphoma. In some instances,
these cancers have been associated with specific
psoriasis treatments which suppress the immune system.
Patients should follow recommended regular health screenings
for cancer and avoid high risk behaviours.

Resources

The National Psoriasis
Foundation Medical Board urges psoriasis patients to
work with their doctors to outline an appropriate
preventative program based on individual medical histories
and known risk factors to ensure they are continually
monitoring for the potential onset of any health issues
related to psoriasis.

Conception
and pregnancy

In general, psoriasis
does not affect the male or female reproductive systems.
However, many psoriasis treatments require special
precautions before and during pregnancy. It is important to
consult with your doctor to verify your psoriasis
treatments are safe for pregnancy and nursing.

How
psoriasis changes during pregnancy

Some women see an improvement
in the severity of their psoriasis during pregnancy,
while others report their psoriasis gets worse. Changes in
severity of psoriasis vary by individual and from
pregnancy to pregnancy.

Psoriatic arthritis and pregnancy

Although medications should be
limited during conception and pregnancy, this may be
impossible for those who have psoriatic arthritis.
Some pain medications can be used safely during pregnancy.
Talk with your doctor about all over-the-counter and
prescription medications you take before conception, during
pregnancy and while nursing.

Genetic
aspects of psoriasis

Psoriasis is
believed to be a genetic disease, but it does not follow
a typical dominant or recessive pattern of inheritance. No
one can predict who will get psoriasis as researchers
do not completely understand how psoriasis is passed
from one generation to another. The pattern of inheritance
probably involves multiple genes or combinations of many
genes, and the search is on to find those genes.

About one out of three people
with psoriasis report that a relative has or had
psoriasis. If one parent has psoriasis, a child
has about a 10 percent chance of having psoriasis. If
both parents have psoriasis, a child has
approximately a 50 percent chance of being diagnosed with
the disease.

Studies of identical twins
with psoriasis show that psoriasis is at least
partially genetic. But those same studies also reinforce the
complexity of psoriasis. In about one-third of
identical twin pairs where psoriasis is present, only
one twin has the disease, indicating that environmental
factors or “triggers” play a role in who develops
psoriasis. The theory that psoriasis is triggered
by a combination of genes and external forces is called "multifactorial
inheritance." Once the genes responsible for psoriasis
are discovered, the inheritance pattern may be better
understood.

Discrimination

Many people with psoriasis
report facing discrimination in public places such as
swimming pools, hair salons and gyms because others fear
psoriasis is contagious. Fortunately, there are federal
laws designed to protect you from discrimination. When it
comes to challenging discrimination, you are your own best
advocate.

Accessing health care

As with most chronic,
autoimmune diseases, psoriasis and psoriatic
arthritis require ongoing treatment. In order to best manage
your condition, it is important to see a doctor regularly
who specializes in treating psoriasis and/or
psoriatic arthritis.

Navigating the health care
system and applying for disability are not always easy, so
we've compiled this list of resources for you to help you
access the care you need to get—and stay—healthy with a
chronic condition.

About
psoriasis in children

Psoriasis is a genetic
skin disease associated with the immune system. The immune
system causes skin cells to reproduce too quickly. A normal
skin cell matures and falls off the body’s surface in 28 to
30 days. However, skin affected by psoriasis takes
only three to four days to mature and move to the surface.
Instead of falling off (shedding), the cells pile up and
form lesions. The skin also becomes very red due to
increased blood flow.

Who is
affected?

The disease affects as many as
7.5 million people in the U.S, about 2.6 percent of the
population. Psoriasis occurs nearly equally in men
and women across all socioeconomic groups. It occurs in all
races, though Caucasians are slightly more affected.

Ordinarily, people have their
first outbreak between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can
appear at any age. Approximately one-third of those who get
psoriasis are under 20 years old when the disease
first surfaces.

Every year, roughly 20,000
children under 10 years of age are diagnosed with
psoriasis. Sometimes it is misdiagnosed because it is
confused with other skin diseases. Symptoms include pitting
and discoloration of the nails, severe scalp scaling, diaper
dermatitis or plaques similar to that of adult psoriasis
on the trunk and extremities. Psoriasis in infants is
uncommon, but it does occur. Only close observation can
determine if an infant has the disease.

Cause of
Psoriasis

No one knows exactly what
causes psoriasis, but it has a genetic component.
Most researchers agree that the immune system is somehow
mistakenly triggered, which speeds up the growth cycle of
skin cells.

Researchers believe that for a
person to develop psoriasis, certain steps must
happen. The individual must receive a combination of
different genes that work together to cause psoriasis.
The individual must then be exposed to specific factors that
can trigger his or her particular combination of genes to
cause the disease. These triggers are not yet fully
understood or defined; however, certain types of infection
and stress have been identified as potential triggers.

If one parent has the disease,
there is about a 10 percent chance of a child contracting
it. If both parents have psoriasis, the chance
increases to 50 percent. No one can predict who will get
psoriasis. Scientists now believe that at least 10
percent of the general population inherits one or more of
the genes that create a predisposition to psoriasis.
However, only 2 to 3 percent of the population develops the
disease.

Triggers

Some young people report the
onset of psoriasis following an infection,
particularly strep throat. One-third to one-half of all
young people with psoriasis may experience a flare-up
two to six weeks after an earache, strep throat, bronchitis,
tonsillitis or a respiratory infection.

Areas of skin that have been
injured or traumatized are occasionally the sites of
psoriasis, know as the “Koebner [keb-ner] phenomenon.”
However, not everyone who has psoriasis develops it
at the site of an injury.

The cause of psoriasis is not known,
but it is believed to have a genetic component.
Factors that may aggravate psoriasis include
stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and
smoking. There are many
treatments available, but because of its chronic recurrent
nature psoriasis is a challenge to treat.

Clinical
classification
of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing disease of the skin,
which may be classified into nonpustular and pustular
types as follows:

Ayurvedic Cure for Psoriasis is better because
Ayurveda has no side effect, it is the herbal way of
treating the Psoriasis patients.

1. Kerala Ayurvedic has developed special medicine for
internal use for Psoriasis

2. We have special
herbal oil for application on the affected area for Psoriasis
patient

3. We have special
powder for cleaning the body and Psoriasis affected area
instead of normal bath soap.

Kerala Ayurvedic
Health Care offers 21 - 28 days treatment and most of the
Psoriasis cure and treatment could be completely cured with
2 - 3 session.

Kerala Ayurvedic Health Care is happy to inform you that we have
tried and tested treatment for Psoriasis cure and we are
engaged in continues research on the treatments of Psoriasis,
making medicines preparing special products for Psoriasis
treatments at our Trivandrum, Kerala center.

In
Ayurveda system of medicines, the Psoriasisoccurs due to
vitiation of vata and kapha doshas. The reasons can be
incompatible food taking, accumulation of toxins etc.

Kerala Ayurvedic Health Care
offers Special Psoriasis treatments of the body
purification, with the help of different treatments like:.
lepanam (application of ointments), abhayangam (oil massage),
snehapanam (taking medicated ghee), pizhichil (full body
massage), avisnanam (medicated steam bath), sirovasti (keeping
oil on head) and other bastis (enema). A psoriasis patient
is also given a strict diet regime called pathyam.

We suggest you treatments for
21 - 28 days and after understanding the improvements of
Psoriasis cure then the doctor will suggest you the
medicines required to continue for some time and doctor will
advice the next course of treatment required. Normally by 2 - 3
session of Panchakarma Treatments most of the Psoriasis
could be cured.

Psoriasis Cure and Herbal Ayurvedic Treatments available at Kerala
Ayurvedic Health Care, Trivandrum Kerala and Kalkaji, New Delhi. We
have special herbal medicines for cure and treatment of Psoriasis and we
provide special herbal vegetarian food, Doctor advices special life style
correction for better cure and treatments for Psoriasis at Trivandrum
Kerala. Kerala Ayurvedic Health Care offers airport pick up,
accommodation and special vegetarian food for Psoriatic patient along with
special Herbal cure and treatments for Psoriasis.